India Ready to Repatriate Citizens Illegally Residing in the US
Washington, Jan 23: India has expressed its readiness to accept the return of its citizens residing illegally in the United States, according to External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The statement came after Jaishankar’s meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, shortly after US President Donald Trump assumed office.
President Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at curbing illegal immigration and expediting the deportation of undocumented individuals.
Jaishankar confirmed that India is in the process of verifying the identities of Indian nationals who may be subject to deportation. Speaking to Indian journalists in Washington, he said, “We want Indian talent and skills to have maximum opportunities globally. However, we firmly oppose illegal movement and illegal immigration.”
He added, “If any of our citizens are found to be illegally present in any country, including the US, and are verified as Indian nationals, we are open to facilitating their legal return to India.”
The remarks follow reports suggesting that India is cooperating with the Trump administration on the potential deportation of 18,000 undocumented Indians.
